Anjali Mudra is one of the most common mudras in yoga

If you take yoga classes you’ve probably seen the anjali mudra before, when your yoga teacher enters the room, just before they say “Namaste.”

It’s often combined with different asanas, such as the Sun Salutation and Tadasana.

It’s popular outside yoga too.

For starters, the anjali mudra is the exact same hand position that used in prayer by Christians. And it is used in Buddhism, Hinduism and many other religions. Although there are are far more important mudras in Buddhism.

The Anjali mudra is even used by non-spiritual people–who doesn’t hold their hands together when they’re asking for a miracle?

There is a reason why this mudra is so popular. It is massively beneficial as we’ll see in a minute.

Anjali Mudra Meaning

The anjali mudra is omnipresent through society.

Seriously.

Even chimps hold their hands together in this gesture.

And because it is so commonplace, it has a lot of different meanings.

In Christianity, the anjali mudra means something totally different to what it means in yoga. “Prayer hands” actually means repentance and dedication to God.

In yoga, the Anjali mudra means “Namaste”. It is a greeting. It says, “I see the divine in you”.

Anjali Mudra Position

The Anjali mudra is always the same hand gesture, regardless of religion.

And it is a really easy hand gesture too.

Simply bring the hands together at the palms with the fingers reaching upwards. Now place your hands in front of your heart.

The Anjali Mudra has many benefits

The Anjali mudra isn’t used for just prayer or for saying “Namaste”. It is actually one of the top mudras for health.

Paul Harrison

Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher, author and journalist based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Paul has helped thousands of people to discover their true potential. Don’t miss Paul’s inspirational and enlightening book: Your Best Meditation

1 Comment

Tony Horan · February 10, 2019 at 3:29 am

Namaste Paul, 🙏

Thank you for this post, I have a couple of question please.

I will be sending an email to a Shaolin training organisation and would like to use an appropriate and respectful greeting and would appreciate your guidance.

I am considering using this emoticon 🙏 followed by “Namaste” to open and close my email, is that appropriate?

Is Anjali or Anjali mudra spoken or written as part of a greeting e.g can one use 🙏 “Anjali” instead of 🙏 “Namaste”?

Would emoticons likely be considered inappropriate or childish to a Shaolin monk? Should I just use English?